Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2016
Source: Auburn Journal (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Gold Country Media
Contact: http://forms.placeropolis.com/?form=letter
Website: http://www.auburnjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/530
Author: Gus Thomson
STATE, FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO PLACER: BAN ALL OUTDOOR, INDOOR GROWS
LaMalfa, Nielsen Cite Crime Increase, Youth Access, Pollution
Placer County supervisors faced down more opposition Tuesday to
efforts that could result in taxing and regulating medical pot grows
this time from Congressman Doug LaMalfa and state Sen. Jim Nielsen.
The two were not present at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting
but sent representatives to read prepared statements reinforcing
strong concerns already voiced earlier in the month by Placer
County's four police chiefs.
Nielsen, speaking to the Journal late Tuesday, said that as chairman
of the state Board of Prison Terms for several years, he observed the
negative impact of marijuana.
"I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a pretty
sight," Nielsen said.
Nielsen added that he has public support for his strong stance.
"I've represented 19 different California counties over a lot of
years and there are some who are very enamored with marijuana,"
Nielsen said. "But most are not and very strongly 'not.' They don't
like how water is misused and abused and there are many other things
that come along with it."
People who have to live around grows don't like the smell or
activities going on around them, he said.
"In may cases, they are fearful," Nielsen said.
While the county is exploring the possibility of regulating and
taxing cannabis production for medical use in advance of possible
passage in November by voters statewide of a measure allowing
recreational use, LaMalfa and Nielsen are calling for what they
describe as a strict local ordinance.
That would mean a complete ban on all outdoor cultivation and indoor
commercial cultivation.
Also banned under the Nielsen-LaMalfa plan would be dispensaries,
distribution, testing, processing and delivery.
If some form of cultivation is deemed necessary, supervisors should
consider policies similar to neighboring counties that establish
land-use ordinances allowing qualified patients or caregivers to only
have limited indoor grows in a building other than a residence, the
two stated in a letter provided to the Journal.
Locations would also be limited.
"Due to the concerns of youth access and exposure to marijuana, we
encourage any indoor marijuana cultivation to be at least one mile
away from any school, church, childcare center, park, school
evacuation site or youth-oriented facility," LaMalfa and Neilsen said.
LaMalfa, R-Richvale, and Nielsen, R-Gerber, reminded board members
that every police chief in the county has joined with Placer County
Sheriff Ed Bonner and District Attorney Scott Owens to oppose a
"broad and permissive ordinance."
"It would be very detrimental to the citizens of Placer County if the
Board of Supervisors votes to ignore the well-founded opinions and
expertise of its law enforcement leaders," the two stated.
Lincoln Police Chief Rex Marks backed up the two's comments, noting
that there were risks to public safety, public health and the
environment by not banning cultivation and dispensaries.
But Loomis resident Sam Toll, who said he has represented the
Libertarian Party at several forums, rebutted the anti-dispensary stance.
"The are only two people who benefit from the ban - one is the cops
and one is the robbers," Toll said.
With a county estimate of 4,000 illicit grows in Placer, regulating
and taxing would bring mostly otherwise law-abiding residents and
taxpayers out of the shadows, he said.
"They want to come into the light," Toll said.
Toll added that Calaveras County is considering a $5,000-per-license
program, which would be able to pay for projects like school
renovations like the ones proposed in Measure C.
Chairman Robert Weygandt said that everyone will have full and ample
opportunity to comment on Placer pot proposals when the board meets June 21.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom